london, "prime minister's questions" from the house of commons. david cameron response to questions about the safety of nuclear power in the u.k. in light of recent events in japan. the labor leader asks the prime minister for an update in libya and whether arab leaders are still in support of coalition operations there. . .

>> will [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] >> we will look at this in terms of foreign policy and military equipment as well. i would say that the strategic security review, the whole pred

indication of -- predication of it was that we should be able to go anywhere in the world with special focus on things like transport. if there are further lessons to learn, we should learn them. >> as we look at japan and watch their horror unfold it is not just earthquakes and tsunami that can threaten a nuclear reactor. does the prime minister agree that what happened here will have consequences for the nuclear power in the u.k.? >> we want to join the gentle lady in sending our condolences to japan.

we must learn everything we can learn, and that's why we are looking at this issue. the stations we have in britain are a different type to those in japan. we are not planning to build any like those. we are not in an earthquake zone or a zone subject to tsunamis. but of course you have to investigate all options but in terms of japan, i think they are doing a good job to deal with this program. the signs are a little better than they were a few days ago. they are not out of the danger zone. what we should do is make sure we give corrective advice to all citizens in tokyo, and that's what we have done and that's what we will continue to do. >> ed milliband. >> can i join the prime minister in extending tribute to michael

pryor. i am sure the whole house will also want to think about armed forces personnel now in action in the military operation and pay tribute to their outstanding work that they are doing. can the prime minister update the house on the progress of our military operation and the actions of british forces. >> well, i thank the gentleman for what he said and also for his speech in that debate on monday, which i thought was extremely powerful. in terms of updating the house a no-fly zone is in place over libya. there are 11 nations now contributing over 150 aircraft. i think, as we discussed on monday, there has been an early and good effect, in terms of regime forces having to retreat from benghazi, but clearly there is concern about what the regime is doing in misrati.

i think we made good progress in the no-fly zone, good progress in terms of turning some of those forces back and protecting civilians, but this is early stages, and a lot more remains to be done. >> mr. ed miliband. >> we support u.n. resolution 1973 to protect the people of israel. can the prime minister reiterate what conversations he's had with arab leaders about their continued role in the enforcement of the resolution and the plan of action. >> first of all the arab league met again yesterday and reinforced their view that a no-fly zone is right and they support u.n. security council resolution 19 73.

-- 1973. we will get lodgistic support. i think arab supporters would have been welcomed by everyone in the house. the clear support is from the secretary state. we want to thank arab people for savings lives in libya. >> we want to thank the contribution of arab nations but also i think there was going to be a more formal process and it is very very important that that process does take place. let me ask you one thing about

our action. can the prime minister clarify the government's position regarding the target of -- targeting of colonel gaddafi. it is important we stick to the terms of the u.n. resolution as we seek to maintain the coalition we have built in regard to the u.n. resolution. >> all our targets must be selected to be absolutely in line with u.n. security council 1973. that allows us to take all military measures to enforce a no-fly zone, and al take all action to protect military life. all targets should be in line with that. >> as my friend struggles to sort out the mess left by -- has my -- by the last rotten labor

government would my right honorable friend take this opportunity to unite the house on health matters by praising the working of nurses in prostate cancer. i yield to no one in blaming the last government for all sorts of ill but blaming on this, i probably draw the line. my honorable friend raised a very important charity which is mary curry cancer and particularly the important work they do. it should be praised by everyone in this house. the whole point of what we want to do in terms of our health reforms is to involve great charities like that that do so much to help people across the

country. >> she has focused now with her intention. does the prime minister think that the mayor elected on a political ticket who is -- should go back to the election in the true spirit and get their opinion on this? >> well, first of all i thank the lady for examining everyone. it was -- he was doing a great job. it might be a matter for her and the people of north side and the nurses to work out what a fantastic job she can do. >> quinton town central is just

15 minutes by rail to london. there is a huge potential to save public money by reallocating part of the government from the most expensive rail system in the country. >> i heard the suggestion of honorable friends for hipsa perhaps to be placed there. he makes a very good point. we have already saved 50 million pounds by relocating government properties. s 2.6 billion pounds. i'm sure there is more we can do . ed miliband. >> can the prime minister explain why he's proposing.

>> the short answer is we're not . >> mr. speaker now for the first time, i have to tell him about his own legislation. 83 of the welfare reform bill. it says precisely that. people don't understand why he's saying it. if he's saying he's going to abandon the policy, great let's abandon the policy. the review of disability living allowance and the mobility component is wrapped up into the new independent payments. that is what's happening. to be frank with him this is a point that's been raised from right across the house of commons. it is a point we have responded to. it is a review he can take part in, and perhaps he can say something constructive.

>> ed miliband. >> it is not a proposal. it is a clause in his bill. a clause in his bill to take away the mobility component. 22 disabled organizes up and down the country are saying he should abandon this. i have a suggestion for him because he's done it before. why doesn't he complete the review and say he's dumping the policy? >> the first thing the honorable gentleman said about living allowance is he wanted to support our gateway reforms. you don't hear about that very much anymore. as i said, the reviewed d.n.a. is rolled into the independent payments. that is how we will reform the mobility component. instead of getting excited about it, he should congratulate the government for soliciting opinion across the house. >> thank you speaker.

my friend the prime minister may be aware the financial times reported earlier this week that gaddafi is sitting on 6.5 billion worth of gold in his war chest. great inflation throughout history. britain, on the other hand, sold off their gold reserves. in order to bowl center the euro . -- in order to bolster the euro. >> an ingenious question by my honorable friend. >> i have to say selling the gold was one of the many appalling zigs made by the last government, and advised by the two people now responsible for the economic policy in opposition. >> why is poor performance still being rewarded in the banking industry? >> what we have done in the banking industries is made sure

they are paying a $2.5 million pound banking levee. not one but every single year during this parliament. in this government, the taxes they pay will go up, the poneouses have gone down, and lending will decrease. she welcome that approach. >> you are welcome to the prime minister. the secretary general of o.e.c.b. who recently said if you don't deal with the deficit you can assure there will be no growth. >> the oecd in town last week and gave the clearest possible message -- if you don't deal with the deficit you won't get any growth. that is what they said. that is what the party opsits, that is about time they started

listening to them. >> dr. roberta wood. >> i'm sure my constituency will increase as a result of cuts. can you tell me what he is doing to develop supply and when he asked the business secretary to meet with local businesses to boost jobs in durham and the northeast? >> i'm happy to arrange that meeting. the point the honorable lady makes is absolutely right. we have to make sure at a time when frankly any government would have to make public sector cuts, we have to make sure the private sector grows. that's why we have the regional growth fund that's putting money. that is why we're going to be introducing things like enterprise zones. that is why if she sits and waits patiently she'll hear a whole series of measures to fire

up the private sector and make sure we get growth right across our country. >> council tax increased mercilously year after year. can the chancellor tell me how many were -- >> my friend makes a good point. people do face a difficult situation. we are lifting people out of income tax. we are uprating in terms with earnings instead of prices. and i'm sure the chancellor will have a few things to say in a

minute or two. >> the prime minister to the campaign around the north, campaign. and i know he will be working day and night on that subject. however, i have another passion and that is on the question of legal aid mple i wonder what his government is going to do to protect those who are debarred from legal aid and potentially get rid of the abuse within the legal system. >> of course this is a devolved issue for scottland but what we have done is made sure that work goes ahead. if he looks at the comparative figures, this country spends way more per head on legal aid than comparison countries, and it is right it should be reformed. >> mr. lawrence robinson. is the prime minister aware of the poor rail services that exist between glouchester and

robinson. the honorable members and i have campaigned hard afor the line. will the prime minister give every consideration possible to that project? >> i do know the problems there are between london and gl ouchester. i hope that he will sit patiently, because i very much have the chance and i have something to say about how we're going to make life easier for constituents of his that want to get to and from glouchester to london. >> come see the prime minister update the house on the reputations he has received from the prime minister to restate the loan. >> the honorable lady knows this was done on the basis of affordability. she also knows they have been

encouraged to bid under the regional growth fund, and that is an approach they can take. >> given the central role that r.a.s. morrow have secured in a no-fly zone over libya and the brave acks of our service pnch nhl despite the growing uncertainty of that base, isn't it time we confirm the future of r.a.s. marrow as a jet base. >> the lady makes an important reputation on behalf of a vital base and gives me the opportunity to again pay tribute to what our brave pilots are doing in order to police the no-fly zone or flying tornadoes in order to carry out vital organizes on the ground in libya. she makes a strong case. i know others would also be making a case, too. these decisions will be taken in due course by the minute --

ministry of defense. >> last week the prime minister told the house people here are twice as likely to die of a heart attack as people in france. isn't it the truth that survival rates are improving. we'll have a lower death rate than france by next year, and we have record levels of satisfaction in the n.h.s. when will we start talking about the m.h.? -- the n.h.s.? >> the n.h.s. has done extraordinary things for me and my family. i am passionate about the n.h.s. i want it to remain and not related on people's ability to pay. the point of saving it is to safeguard it for the future. this is what i think everyone in the house wants. i will never talk down the n.h.s. if we really believe we can't do better on cancer, on heart disease, on stroke, if we can't we're fooling ourselves. we must do better.

that's the aim of our reforms. >> thank you mr. speaker. the coalition agreement promises the government great accountability in screening through directly elected individuals on the board of prim ri care trust. would the prim accept the best way to cliffer this commitment >> one way to make the n.h.s. more accountable is through the betterment of the n.h.s. i think that's the best way to make sure there is good democratic accountability for what happens in our n.h.s. >> mr. speaker, the government has not factored into future government proposals the sell-off of the bank assets we own. give yep the p.m.'s commitment to volunteering and the dire straits that many young people

face in terms of unemployment when it comes to an endowment fund building on these six-week national services and benefiting both individuals and the nation as a whole. >> i think the gentleman makes an interesting suggestion. obviously there will be an opportunity to sell the bank assets we own. i don't think that opportunity is now, and i don't think we should wait to get national zens citizen service like he mentioned, up and running. i want every 16-year-old have the opportunity to take part in something like that, to make him feel more part of that country as we move toward adulthood. >> so many difficulties for our economy. does the prime minister agree that it is all the more important that we upgrade our industries and businesses by providing trade opportunities for young people.

>> i think the honorable gentleman makes an important point. that is why we're making bold and different reforms in education as we stand today less than 50% of young people at 16 are getting a to z in english and math. frankly, that isn't good enough. that's why i pay tribute to my friend the secretary who is setting a higher bar for himself and this government. >> may i welcome the prime minister's many -- the e.u. directive on sex slave trafficking. this is a cross-party issue. look particularly at unaccompanied children arriving. there is evidence some of those

may be trafficked. we may be able to put some block on this terrible thing with a bit of work there. >> i'm grateful to the gentleman for his question. he is absolutely right. this is an issue of cross-party concern. we agree with what was proposed for the trafficking directive. we decided to wait to check that it was actually going to be in line with what was wanted and didn't have further dangers. we will be opting into that directive with parliamentary position. we have to make sure arrangements are in place to help trafficked children in the way that he suggests. >> a recent public accounts committee reports found that in the past hospitals were built on the p.s.i. even though that was more expensive than other properties. in some hospitals --

>> they are at risk of a fire sale to benefit could havers.

the association of northeast councils have joined forces in a bid to take on these assets for the benefit of our region. will the prime minister back this bid and put his warm words on localism into action? >> we're grateful to the honorable lady. it is an important issue that we make sure as we move forward many of which are up and running and do a good job, that we make sure we have a good consistency and good continuity. i certainly look at the case that she makes. >> mr. speaker would my friend comment in advance of the budget on the current financial situation in terms that i can use to convey to my constituents the dreadful state of the economy that we inherited from the party opposite. >> one way of putting the inheritance that we had is that we had a budget deficit that was bigger than portugal, bigger than spain bigger than greece.

it is only because of the action that we've taken in government to actually show how we're going to pay down our debt that we have interest rates in this country in a similar level to germany. that's what we've been able to do with no help from the party opposition. >> it was reported on the weekend that the department of health failed to publish research that it commigged and received last autumn which shows the highest level ever of satisfaction with the n.h.s. will the prime minister urge the secretary of state to publish that research without further delay or by not doing so, will he confirm that the b.m.a. was right last week when it deployed the government's use of misleading and inaccurate information to -- this government has published more information about the national health service than any other government, and indeed,

he's quoting from a published report. >> but the point i make is -- the point i've made, is if we have the same survival rates for cancer as the european average we would save 5,000 lives every year. now, the members opposite want to save those lives. are you going to stick with the status quo and say there shouldn't be choice? that patients shouldn't have a say in how they are treated, that doctors shouldn't be more involved in the health service? what a backward step. what a backward lot. >> parents value the 15 hours free nursing. however 22 nurses met with me and are concerned about the new guidelines not giving enough flexibility. so i talked to my honorable friends to. >> let's make sure what we've done is properly funded point

extra hours and for the first time introduced that system for disadvantaged 2-year-olds. this is a big step forward. at a time of spending constraints we have been able to help the poorest families in our country. but i will make sure she meets with my right old friend the secretary of education to make sure this is introduced in the right way. siffer adrian -- sir adrian bailey. >> the secretary of state in a newspaper interview this weekend passed on the viability of investment in the nuclear energy industry. given the strategic importance of this industry and the need for certainty and commitment from the government, can the prime minister reassure this house and business that his policy is unaltered in this area? >> i can do that. the point i'd make -- the climate change and energy secretary would say exactly the